Professor Stephen Sparks will receive the Thorarinsson Medal for 2008 by the International Association for Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI). This is the top international award in volcanology and is given every four years.

It has also been announced that Professor Sparks is to serve as President-Elect of the Volcanology, Geochemistry and Petrology Section of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) for 2008-2010. He is the only non-US President-Elect in the new results. He will then become President for 2010-2012.

Dr Joachim Gottsmann is to receive the IAVCEI’s Wager Medal for 2008, which is given to mid-career volcanologists under the age of 40 (past winners include Professor Sparks in 1983). Two Wager medals are awarded every four years.

Source: By University Of Bristol